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Sunday, November 21, 2010

I'm in the prime of my life now and wish I'd realised it sooner rather than feeling eternally 17. Stuart and I were talking about how, right now we're at what we feel to be the peak of our lives. We're at a point where absolutely anything at all could happen - we could end up just about anywhere, doing just about anything. We have a few years left of this but once it's gone, it's gone. We don't imagine we'll ever be in the situation again where we has as few ties as we do right now. Because of this realisation I decided I'm going to try and look the way I imagined I'd look at this stage of my life. I like how I am. I really like my bodacious curves and I'm about 87% comfortable with my body. I want to try something different though.

I'm keeping all the numbers and embarrassing photos to myself until I reach my ultimate weight goal which I should reach by summer... actually by GRADUATION. Yep. It's like life is giving me such a treat by letting those two things happen at the same time. I'll unveil the photos when I reach my goal weight and everyone in the whole world will be encouraged. If Wii Fit ever does an infomercial like nutrasystem or Jenny Craig I might even go on that.

So far the weight loss has not been difficult. It's certainly a little more work but it's not been anything terrible, like I'd imagined it would be. Having Stuart joining me on the skinnying trip has helped a lot. I'd not have done it without him I don't think.

If you have goals you've been putting off I encourage you to work towards them NOW. Don't make excuses, find the motivation and just go for it. You really know you want to. If you leave it too late you'll regret it and there's nothing worse than that. You can do it. You CAN.

Today during an interview I was asked if I had achieved any of my dreams or goals within the last 5 years. I was so happy to say that, yes, I really have. Year 25 was so goal orientated and Y26 is going to take it to the next level. I have a serious zest for life.

Friday, November 19, 2010

I've been tagged about 30 times with this sucker on facebook this week so I thought I'd put it on my blog which is linked to my facebook and kill 30 birds with one stone. Yeah!

1. I always read when I'm in the bath.
2. When I take a bath I'm in it for at least an hour and a half.
3. I have a tattoo on my face.
4. I'm sensitive.
5. I don't deal well with tension, it makes me cry or laugh. If I laugh it's so I don't cry.
6. I love candles.
7. The only time I've tasted alcohol was when a cup of it was poured on my head at a concert.
8. The first concert I went to was Green Day when I was 13. Thanks Scott.
9. I love facebook, especially on my birthday.
10. I have a phobia of things that are upside down. They really disturb me.
11. I also have a phobia of crossing the road. Sometimes I just close my eyes and run.
12. I don't recommend online school anymore.
13. It blows my mind how much I love Stuart. Sometimes when I look at him I can't even believe it.
14. I love seeing stuff. Seeing is my favourite.
15. I still get night terrors.
16. I love being surprised... but not by night terrors.
17. I can't go cross eyed because one eye won't do it. I only learned this recently.
18. I love working for Decclo because I love getting to talk to artists and other creative folks.
19. Sometimes I get into a fit of rage and complain about one thing over and over. Usually on boring days I do that.
20. My feet are always freezing cold but I like them like that.
21. I've lost a stone since I started eating and exercising 7 weeks ago.
22. I worry I'll get skinny and then want to dress immodestly. It must be a struggle being skinny.
23. I regularly tell Stu his fly is down, usually it's as a joke but usually it really is down.
24. I hate doing the dishes.
25. I love Robert Downey, Jr. If he ever asks me out to lunch I'm allowed to go.
26. I love to laugh but when I laugh too much I throw up.
27. I hope I look as good as my mum when I'm her age.
28. Stuart is very, extremely reserved but I can make him do anything for a laugh.
29. Sometimes I seem boring and rude because I'm quiet but I just like being quiet. Silence isn't uncomfortable for me.
30. Because of the night terrors I'm scared of dinosaurs and albino rabbits in real life.

I tried to end that on the most random thing I could think of. Don't use it against me as a weapon.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

25 ends for me on Friday. I was horribly nervous and absolutely distressed over the idea of being 25 for some reason. Maybe being in the absolute middle of my 20's made me realise some stuff... ok, no maybe about it, it really did.

First of all 25 is half way to 50. I think that's why (hopefully) people freak out about that age. It's also "The Prime" for most folk. It has been for me. It'll sound ridiculous to people older than me but I am a ridiculous person, I don't mind it being down hill from here. As in, down hill out of my prime and into whatever comes next. Middle aged? I'll tell you more about "The Prime" in another post. It's profound for me.

I started 25 with a friend who has come to mean more to me over the year and I'll be ending it with her here too. That's the kind of symbolism I really love. Another year passes, a new one begins and we're all on the journey together.

This year I've tried to be more conscious of my own milestones because I'm still growing up and those achievements still deserve to be celebrated even if I'm not 7 years old anymore.

Twenty-Five =

Family: Andrew was here for Christmas 2009. I had to go home to Scotland for 7 weeks. I also gained a new niece, lovely little Nora. Some bridges were also mended/strengthened this year. Some were weakened but there is always next year.

Roadtrips & New places: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Trees of Mystery/Paul Bunyan. Driving from here to Seattle - staying in hotels which is always the ultimate treat for me.

School: Majoring in Graphic Design, 6 months left. If it wasn't for one little B, I'd be a straight A student. I'm even putting my major to good use and making a little money here and there. I've become a little more disciplined and I quite like it... can't wait for it to be over though.

Decclo: Got completely involved in Decclo starting with a photo campaign and now working on advertising and marketing along with tshirt designs and daily interactions with some of the most talented people in the world.

Self awareness & acceptance: This is something that goes along with a post I'll do later about "My Prime" but I've learned a lot about myself this year. I'm a needy person but I'm also independant. I need to remember that it's ok to be like that. I'm not attention seeking, I sometimes just need to feel more approval to help me take steps forward. I'll expose the workings of my brain later. I also cut my own hair and have started losing weight in Y25.

Sleep habits: A while back I posted about how it was normal for me to wake up 4-7 times a night and how it would take me a couple of ours to first get to sleep and then another 45 minutes after waking up to get back to sleep. Well, in my 25th year I finally got my first whole nights sleep! I worked hard on this one and it paid off. I sleep almost all night every night now and sometimes I do sleep the whole night!

Infertility: A big milestone I reached this year is accepting the possibility of never having a child. Explaining those feelings and sharing them with others was a big step in accepting that.

SHEnanigans: Silly Girls went world wide and through my struggle of self awareness I turned into a monster. Luckily I've been forgiven and Silly Girls/SHEnanigans has grown and helped me whilst helping others. Is that cryptic? Probably. I'm pretty ashamed of myself sometimes and the whole cross over of Silly Girls to SHEnanigans is one of those times. I'm just glad it stayed wonderful even when I wasn't. Sorry again to one of the best examples to me, Megan...

Stuart: Basically he's the best part of me. On November 11th it was 7 years since he flew in to Scotland. On my birthday it'll have been 7 years since he proposed. This has been our first whole year living together just the two of us and it's been the best. I can tackle all my years, transitions and milestones as long as I have him with me. He makes each year more special and it's because of his encouragement that I make most of the progress that I do. Love him.

That's a recap of 25. It's been full of ups and downs but looking back it's the ups that I only really remember.

How is your year going? Have you made any progress in your goals? Have you realised your potential yet?

Monday, November 15, 2010

I'm prone to exaggeration and have a flair for the dramatics at times but let it be known that I am completely serious when it comes to the hot topic of Christmas music.

Right around Halloween there'll be comments, statuses, even texts questioning and sometimes even blatant aggravation concerning Christmas music being played "too early" because "it's not even Thanksgiving yet". Well, let me tell you I feel very strongly about such bah-hum-buggish attitudes.

Firstly, Christmas is about Jesus' birthday. Why on earth does that alone not make Christmas music "early" acceptable? Why are you getting so annoyed when the music is about Jesus?! These comments seem to come more from Christians, no less! It's like listening to hymns... except you can dance to them.

Secondly, when you think of Christmas does it not conjure up warm, happy, gleeful memories? Does it not make you think of your family and traditions, gifts and food? This is why I listen to Christmas music in June. Sue me. I love those memories.

Third, you are not going to get sick of Christmas music if you start hearing it in November. Honestly. There is SO much Christmas music out there (just look on my mp3 player) and if that was really a valid reason to not enjoy Christmas music before December you ought to be ashamed - and you ought to stop listening to the radio, cd's and everything because you'll get sick of Katy Perry and Justin Beiber too... that last one was pushing it, I know but some people really love Justin Beiber... I wonder if he'll do a Christmas album?

Fourth, when you gripe about Christmas music and how you don't want to hear it you really just sound like Scrooge. You're not spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear. It makes me genuinely sad.

ALSO, Thanksgiving and Christmas go hand in hand. How can you be so stuck on Thanksgiving and be cursing the Christmas music? That doesn't even make sense.

Lighten up, eh? It's Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year and the music only means it's getting closer. Accept it and love it! I will fight this one to the death. I really don't think there's a good, proper reason for Christmas music to only be played in December. There is no logic behind that idea. If you just embrace it you'll feel so much happier and I won't have to get all Christmas-Crazy on you.

Did you know any form of Christmas celebrations were banned in Scotland for 400 years and that if you were caught even baking a mince pie you could be punished by death? Christmas only became "legal" again in Scotland in the 1960's. I'm thankful to have Christmas to celebrate.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

"I started work with J. Fairley in 1938 till 1939, when I got the chance to start work with a Foundery and Engineering Work called Campbell, Binnie,Reid and Co., in Burnbank, Hamilton. Where I got an Apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner that would be in 1939 till 1942 when I joined the Army in the Y.M.C.A. building in Motherwell, had my Medical Examination received the King's (1s) Shilling, and was asked what Regiment I wanted to join and I asked for the Seaforth Highlanders my father's old Regiment, but there was no vacancies so had to accept the Black Watch Regiment, hence the Black Watch number 2767219.

I was given a travel warrant to Perth Barracks where I went for initial training, arrived there on the 12th February 1942. In the summer of that same year the Battalion was doing Guard duties on the Royal Naval Air Stations. We had a Company at each Station, at Teeling, Arbroath, Donna = Bristal, Milnathorpe, Crail, with Headquarter Coy., at Monifieth and Broughty Ferry near Dundee.

It was a beautiful summer that year and when we were not on Guard Duties we were working on local Farms bringing in the Harvest. I was at Crail working with a Clydesdale horse with a Rick Lifter on a Farm during the day. When the Harvest was over we were all moved to Freckenham near Newmarket, in England for a short time, then we moved to Leigh-on-Sea farther south near London. It was from here that the Black Watch Battalion was Dissbanded and we were all sent as reinforcements to other Regements to prepare for the Normandy landings. It was from here I was posted to the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at Swarling in Northumberland on 18th December 1942 to 1943. From September 1943 to April 1944 in Queensbury Yorkshire. Then from April 1944 to June 1944 Hove Sussex, 26th June 1944 - 2nd July 1944 -- First Battle of the Odon.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

I'm feeling all sorts of restless right now. It's finals week and I just can't be bothered. I keep thinking "Only 6 more weeks, Laura. Six more weeks until you get a break"... 4 weeks break in a year is not enough. I don't even get weekends off school. I'll be done for good in 6 months. No amount of pressure or encouragement is going to get me to go back (to this school) to get my bachelors degree. I'll save my griping about that for another post.

This Document Design class has been more useful than I care to admit though. If you need a poster created, I'm your girl. The main thing I've learned is that there's really no place in the world for centre aligned text. So stop writing your blogs in that format. I didn't agree with the statement the first 12 times I heard it but now I do. Centre alignment is not balanced, you just think it is but it really isn't... does it sound like I'm trying to avoid class today?

In other news we just launched a design contest over at Decclo which raises funds for Surfers Healing, a foundation for autism. If you know of anyone with graphic design skills please, please, please pass this info along. They're completely non-profit and need to raise $10,000 every year to run their surf camp and we want to help out as much as possible - plus for the two winning designers it's going to be really good exposure. The Paskowitz family that run the camp are being featured on the New Oprah Network in January, just sayin.

Get contest info here. Share our facebook status, retweet us and all that good stuff.
And if you have any questions at all, let me know. I'll do anything to encourage anyone to join in with this!